Adult ADHD

It is estimated that around 10 million adults have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. (ADHD) In early adulthood, ADHD can be mistaken for depression, mood disorders, or substance abuse. Those who suffer from ADHD experience problems at work and in their personal lives. Day-to-day responsibilities seem difficult to complete. Relationships may suffer. Usually, there is a constant, nagging feeling of frustration, guilt or blame.

Difficulty maintaining attention is another common symptom associated with ADHD. The brain has a hard time prioritizing and managing thoughts and actions. Without this ability, it is hard to consider the  long-term consequences of your actions. Those affected may find it difficult to complete tasks and may be very forgetful. 

Symptoms-

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) lists three main symptoms of ADHD:

Predominantly inattentive

Examples include difficulties paying attention, struggles with instructions, unorganized, avoids tasks that require sustained mental effort, loses things frequently, easily distracted and forgetful.

Hyperactive-Impulsive

Examples include fidgets with hands or squirms in chair, extreme restlessness, acts as if driven by a motor, talks excessively, difficulty waiting turns, interrupts or intrudes on others.

Combined

A mix of both predominantly inattentive and hyperactive impulsive.

Here are some other ways that ADHD can affect your life:

• Inconsistent job performance, losing or quitting jobs a lot
• History of underachievement academically
• Unable to manage day-to-day responsibilities
• Relationship problems
• Forgetting important things
• Easily upset over minor things
• Constant state of stress or worry about failure to meet goals and accomplish tasks
• Always feeling frustrated or guilty

Personally for me, when my symptoms spike I feel scattered and out of control. I worry about everything, feel guilty, assume my husband is always annoyed with me and my memory goes to shit. I also start and stop a million tasks at once and only finish a few.

Diagnosis-

If you think that you might have ADHD, your first step should be to talk to a doctor. Find a trained professional who is familiar with ADHD. They will complete a diagnostic evaluation using any of the following- ADHD symptom checklists, standardized behavior rating scales and a detailed history of past and current functioning.

Treatment-

Adults with ADHD benefit from the same treatment that children with ADHD receive. Treatment usually includes medication and learning how to structure their environment. I found a great resource that has tons of tips and advice on Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) website. It's called "Living With ADHD: A Lifespan Disorder" and it is really worth checking out if you have ADHD, even if you aren't struggling. 

ADHD and Women

Few studies have been conducted on ADHD in women so knowledge is very limited. Adult women in particular have only just begun to get diagnosed with ADHD. The disorder is often overlooked in young girls for reasons that remain unclear. So most frequently an adult woman will recognize her own ADHD symptoms after one of her kids is diagnosed with ADHD.

Many clinician are discovering that women with ADHD also have co-existing conditions like overeating, alcohol abuse or chronic sleep deprivation.

Women with ADHD often experience dysphoria (unpleasant mood), major depression and anxiety. I experience all three of those in addition to my ADHD. A recent study showed that husbands of women with ADHD are less tolerant of their spouses ADHD patterns than wives of men with ADHD. Chronic stress is a significant symptom of ADHD in women, largely in part because they bear more responsibility when it comes to home and children. 

It is becoming increasingly clear that the lack of proper identification and treatment of ADHD in women is a pretty significant public health concern.

I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my early 30s. After my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, I realized that I too exhibited the same patterns. Medication has been a lifesaver for me. I still struggle with my symptoms some days but without medication I would be a mess.

If you can relate to this post and feel like you might have ADHD, I encourage you to speak to a professional about your symptoms. Getting diagnosed and receiving treatment was life changing for me.